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Adding Organic Touches to Your Interior

My guest blogger, Lillian Conners, is back with some interesting ideas for the fast-growing and popular trend of "organic" interior design...

As the level of environmental awareness is growing, the word “organic” has become widespread in all areas of life, including interior design. The new trend called organic interiors has been on the horizon since 2013 and it incorporates, among others, organic natural materials, such as bamboo and wood, greenery and low VOC paints. Going organic in interior also includes using items inspired by nature. One example is faux bois, a woodlike pattern, for walls and upholstery.

The popularity of organic interiors is rising and the number of interior designers specializing in this new design trend is getting bigger every day. One of them is Laurie Owen, a South African designer, who uses local natural materials for her homes and hotels as much as she can.

A natural accent wall

A natural accent wall has one important benefit – it blends well with almost any kind of interior design style, including minimalist, industrial and shabby chic. Get out of your comfort zone and combine futuristic features in the bedroom with a birch branch wall. Go one step further and consider repurposed packing cartons for an accent wall. Safer, yet still stunning and sustainable options, are a brick, wood and stone wall, which give your house a rustic feel.

Outdoor furniture indoors

In a recent chat with the people behind Robert Plumb, it was brought to my attention that using outdoor furniture indoors not only brings nature into your home, but it also reduces wear and tear. Outdoor furniture is durable created to withstand harsh conditions of the outside. Apart from patio furniture options (timber, wrought iron, aluminum and wicker furniture), you can also opt for non-toxic, sustainable furnishings of the upholstered furniture.

Earthy curtains and window treatments

Organic curtains can be made of cotton, hemp, silk or linen and they come in all patterns, colors and textures. Bamboo curtains and blinds are a popular eco-friendly choice. They are effective sun protection and can be installed both outside and inside. To add an oriental touch to your interior, go for linen and indigo-dyed traditional Japanese Noren curtains. You can also combine woven wood shades with the drapery made of natural materials.

Green rugs

Jute, organic cotton, seagrass, sisal, coir and wool are the most common materials for eco-friendly rugs. The rug may be made of natural fibers, but still be chemically treated with stain, flame and insect repellents, so make sure you choose the one which does not contain VOCs. The same applies to backing and underlay pads. Choose the ones not glued, but sewn to the rugs. You can also green your home with living moss rugs and bathroom mats. Nature-mimicking rugs like the Forest Rug by Angela Adams and nature-inspired wool rugs by Alexandra Kehayoglou transform your house in a woodland retreat.

Celebrate greenery indoors

Be creative with plants. Instead of ordinary plants and pots, choose Joost Bakker’s Schiavello vertical gardens. These vertical gardens are steel-frame grids housing a huge number of vertically stacked plants. Greenery can function as a room divider, as well. Those who have interior courtyard can incorporate living trees indoors. With indoor water gardens, you kill two birds with one stone – esthetics and better air quality are combined.

Do not forget about bathrooms and kitchens. If your bathroom does not have a lot of natural light, choose air plants and display them in water terrariums, or small wall-mounted pots. Bright bathrooms lend themselves to Gardenias, Azaleas and Orchids. For those who do not have time to maintain plants, Philodendrons are a perfect choice. When it comes to the kitchen, grow fresh herbs in small wooden containers you can place on the window sill.

On December 2014, Marie Chelius, a founder of Marie Chelius Interiors said for The Morning Call: “Because they [natural materials] bring a feeling of nature indoors. People seek out the beauty of these materials, and there's so much you can do with them. And they are very durable.” If you add greenery and nature-mimicking elements, as well, your house will be a true nature retreat.

Author Bio: If one thing is true about Lillian Connors, her mind is utterly curious. That’s why she can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Sharyn Hutchinson

Welcome to my blog on home ideas and redesign. I believe having a beautiful home doesn't have to be expensive nor difficult. Using pieces you already own in new and creative ways can bring a whole new life to your home. Having a peaceful and beautiful environment is not only important to me but is a never-ending passion.